New to the game

**nnutthowze** · 04-14-2005 08:51 PM

I'm new to the whole import thing. I have been around American cars my whole life. I recently bought an 05 WRX and I can't wait to work on it. So I'm asking others out there, that are obviously more experienced than I, what is going to give me the most bang for my buck. I have been told "up pipe, down pipe, cold air intake. What do you guys think?

**TurnWRX** · 04-14-2005 09:11 PM

Welcome!

Stay away from CAI's until u upgrade to a bigger turbo. The stocker is just fine.

Best bang for buck is the stage 2 (up, dp, catback, engine management)

from then on, it's bigger turbo

For handling, the most obvious would be to get better tires

or swaybars

**YBNormal07** · 04-15-2005 04:13 AM

Congrats and welcome. Each forum has posts called "stickies" that deal with commonly asked questions such as this one. This "stickey" should answer yours.
Good first mods

**nnutthowze** · 04-15-2005 07:09 AM

What do you mean by "engine management" and what's a "CAI"

**Brents** · 04-15-2005 07:24 AM

Welcome, read up, lots of info here on exactly the questions that you asked. CAI=cold air intake, not great on our cars until other mods are done, and engine management=changing or altering the engine computer. ex, UTEC, Ecutek, Accessport, many others....You are right on about up pipe, down pipe, and then an exhaust. The engine management make the best use of these mods to make some real power!!

**YBNormal07** · 04-15-2005 07:27 AM

Engine management is something that is used to "manage" the engines computer (ECU). It takes the form of a piggyback (TurboXS, etc), reflash (Cobb, EcuTek, etc), or standalone (Hydra, etc.). Used to modify factory setpoints mainly around Air/Fuel ratios, timing, and boost levels. One of the better mods for the buck.

CAI = Cold Air Injection, otherwise known as an aftermarket intake, which in this definition, is installed such that it pulls air from an area other than under the hood, thus feeding colder air to the engine, providing gains in performance. Use caution when purchasing as there are good and bad designs out there. I can't recommend any as I don't need one (STi).